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Kessi World

Mindful travel around the Pacific Northwest.

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Nature

Point Defiance Park — the best day in Tacoma wilderness

January 4, 2023 by Matthew

Beautiful pink blooms of a rhododendron are pushing out getting ready to splash on the scene. In the background are various trees in Point Defiance Park in Tacoma.

My mom and her siblings grew up on the edge of a vast green space, where old-growth timber hugged primitive deer trails, and a zoo served up elephants and bears in “old school” cages of concrete and iron. It was wilderness back then when Tacoma’s North End was largely undeveloped. Their log cabin overlooked the flowing lawns of Point Defiance Park and was just high enough in … [Read more...] about Point Defiance Park — the best day in Tacoma wilderness

Seattle botanical gardens — the 10 best kept local secrets

August 12, 2020 by Matthew

A bright pink and yellow flower blooms open in the sunshine in the Perennial border garden of Bellevue Botanical Garden. The leaves around the bright flower are a lush green while more flowers farther away are out of focus.

A city garden, lovingly crafted by the hands of inspired green thumbs, provides one of the greatest services in an urban environment. A reminder that no matter where we are, nature is around us, flourishing and working hard to help the world persevere. Public gardens also place humanity on even ground, allowing the community at large to access the calming energy in a simple, … [Read more...] about Seattle botanical gardens — the 10 best kept local secrets

Photo Gallery: Pacific Northwest Spring flowers, a salve for our hearts in the time of corona virus

March 29, 2020 by Matthew

Scene in Volunteer Park in Seattle with the trunks of 100 year old trees just in time for their cherry blossoms to emerge in rains of pink cascading flowers. The lawn is green with a gravel path through it.

Introduction -- Nature is my medicine Throughout my life, in periods of darkness or profound sorrow, I've leaned into the natural world for help. Love and light always follow, even if not in the manner expected. Whether looking out my back window or actively hiking in a national park --trees, plants, animals and sunlight are my friends, bringing optimism and support that … [Read more...] about Photo Gallery: Pacific Northwest Spring flowers, a salve for our hearts in the time of corona virus

I want to come clean

October 21, 2019 by Matthew

One of two large Tetrapanax plants that's grown from a small seedling to a tree over 15 feet tall in my back yard. The leaves are sometimes four feet across and funnel water into droplets on rainy days. I want to do more to reduce my carbon footprint so that my plants won't have to work as hard.

Greetings from hot and steamy Bangkok.  I'm in SE Asia for about ten days exploring with my great friends Elliott and Brian.  We flew on a new, 16 hour nonstop flight Singapore Airlines started between Seattle and Singapore.  Amazing that with a little bit of entertainment (or the entire second season of Killing Eve) and some liquid merriment along the way, the … [Read more...] about I want to come clean

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I would like to acknowledge that much of my inspiration comes from living on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People past and present and honor with gratitude the land itself and the Duwamish Tribe.

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